Rather than startle her and try to run, he whimpered again and rolled onto his back, exposing his belly and rubbing his fur into the grass and dirt. From his upside-down position, he saw the slight tipping of her lips in a small smile.
“You’re just an overgrown puppy, aren’t you? Who in their right minds would domesticate such a beautiful creature?” she finally asked.
Three
Maple couldn’t take her eyes off the hulking beast rolling around in the dirt. Sure, she was a little afraid—the wolf was huge, after all—but the thing was playing like it was a little pup. With his tongue hanging out of his mouth, and what she could only describe as a smile on its furry face, she didn’t think she was in any real danger.
His coat, healthy and thick, covered what looked like a strong body. She could only imagine that he was well fed. And if that was the case, she wasn’t likely to become his lunch…or supper, as it were. Still, she wasn’t foolish, she wouldn’t turn her back on it, just in case.
Already itching from the soap drying on her skin, she poured the water from the pitcher she’d brought out as spare in case her makeshift shower ran out down her body. She gasped at the shock of cold water on her sun-heated skin. Her muscles tensed and her nipples pebbled into hard peaks. “Crap, that was cold,” she told the wolf when he rolled onto his belly and looked at her with his head tipped to the side again.
Something about the beast was familiar. The white markings on his face, the way his gaze pierced her. She tried to remember the furry friend she’d made her last summer at the cabin before they’d moved to the city. Grandma had been furious when she’d found out she’d befriended a wild animal—more than furious. She’d forbidden her from ever going near it again. Then two weeks later, they’d up and moved.
She’d watched a documentary a few years back, and she was pretty sure wolves didn’t live that long in the wild. A decade, maybe, but not two. As much as this one resembled the one from her youth, it couldn’t be. From the same pack? Maybe. Who knew.
The wolf stayed where he was, looking up at her with big, intelligent amber eyes.
“I think I met one of your ancestors once,” she told it, then laughed when he tilted his head to the other side with his ears perked up as though he was intent on listening. “It was almost twenty years ago now. And he was just as handsome as you.”
The wolf gave a little yip as though agreeing with her.
“If I come closer, you won’t bite me, will you?” she asked. She took a step, watching for any signs of stress or aggression from the animal. “I want to see how soft you are.”
His tail smacked the ground as he wagged it.
“No, you won’t bite me.” She came a few steps closer, waited, then moved again until she was within arms reach. “Can I touch you?”
The wolf brought his head forward slowly, sniffing her hand. With trembling fingers, she reached for the top of his head, ready to leap back if need be, but the animal wagged his tail harder and then turned his head and gave her arm a long lick.
She laughed and scratched behind his ear. “Okay, peep show is over. I have to get dressed and make my dinner. I’ll see you around. Hopefully, tomorrow my shower will be fixed, and you won’t get to see quite so much of me.”
Maple straightened again, ready to turn away, when he got to his feet. She’d forgotten how big the creature was. Her heart raced as it looked at her. It took a slow step forward, then before she could figure out what he was doing, his furry muzzle was pressed up against her crotch.
“Woah, hello,” she said as she took a quick step back. It followed her, but when it tried to sniff her again, she turned. Undeterred, it went to her ass, smelling her there. “Okay, Mr. Frisky. That’s enough of that,” she scolded as she swatted him away.
The wolf looked at her again, its eyes shining bright and a funny expression on its face. Just when she thought she’d have to make a dash for it, or risk getting another sniffing, the wolf licked her from the bottom of her right ass cheek to the top of her hip. It made a soft growling sound, then, without warning, rushed off into the brush and out of sight.
“What the hell?” She stared at the spot where he’d disappeared for a full minute before bursting into laughter. “That was the most action I’ve seen in three years, and it wasn’t even from a man. Figures.”
Shaking her head, she walked to the front of the cabin.
***
Strung tighter than any bow, Jaxon’s body vibrated with excitement. Maple had grown into a fucking goddess with all the curves he could ever dream of. And her scent… It filled his senses, making his body sing and need pulse through him like a living thing. He couldn’t even think about how delicious her skin was. He’d taken a risk—a huge risk, considering the rifle she still had close by—in burying his nose into her as he had, and an even bigger one when he’d been unable to resist and licked her, but damn, it had been worth it.
He grinned in his wolf form. He didn’t need a scenting ceremony to know she was his. There had never been a question in his mind, but the wolf had needed to reacquaint itself with her, and so he’d let it.
He watched from a distance as she pulled the sheets from the line. The shorts she’d put on covered her—barely—and the T-shirt stretched across her ample breasts. He half considered staying in his wolf form all night and guarding her, but then he wouldn’t be any better off. Come morning, he’d still be stuck in his wolf form with no clothes to wear to meet her in person.
She’d be safe enough overnight. He’d spent the past hour marking the forest around the cabin. No one would come close. With one last look at her tempting figure, he loped away. He’d waited twenty years for her to come back, he could wait another night. Besides, he’d be back tomorrow and bring his tools. The steps to the cabin needed fixing, as did the dock. Hell, that thing probably needed to be replaced entirely. It was long past time he started taking care of his mate.
The sun was sinking low in the sky by the time he got home. Even the sight of Emmet standing there, leaning against the side of his pickup truck, scowling like his face would shatter if he stopped, couldn’t dim his joy.
Shifting as he approached, Jaxon ignored his brother’s scowl and smiled. “Hey. What’s up?” he asked.
“I’m wondering the same damned thing. Bruce noticed your truck was still here and called to ask me how come you hadn’t left for Blue Creek yet.”
Emmet growled and shifted his weight to his good leg, grimacing as the pain he always tried so hard to hide reared its ugly head.
“I don’t need to go—”
“Like hell you don’t. You need a mate. We’ve talked about this. You fucking agreed. So, I ask again, why the hell are you still here?” he growled.
“She’s back,” he answered once his brother’s wolf settled and his rumbling died down.
A deep groove furrowed Emmet’s brow. “Who’s back?”
“Who the hell do you think? The one person I’ve been waiting for my whole damned life, that’s who.”
Emmet stilled and scratched his beard. “Are you shitting me? And she’s not mated?”
Jaxon drew a deep breath. “Not as far as I can tell.”
“You didn’t think to ask her this while you were over there? I’d think if you were going to blow off the mating event of the year, you’d have made damned sure.”
“She’s not fucking mated or married. And I couldn’t ask her. I was shifted.” The wolf had made sure there was no other male’s scent on Maple’s body, so unless she lived separately from her husband and never had sex, she wasn’t married.
“For your sake, I hope you’re right. The pack needs—”
“A strong Alpha pair. I know,” he cut in.
Emmet looked at the ground at his feet and sighed, his frustration clear. “I’m glad your mate’s back. I hope things work out for you this time around,” he said with a smile that didn’t come anywhere near his eyes.
“How pissed will Mrs. Wolfe be if I don’t show up?
” There was no way he was leaving now that Maple was here, but he had to know if he’d have to do any grovelling later when he spoke with Aric again.
Emmet shrugged. “She’ll understand. Mates come first. Always.”
“You should go,” Jaxon said, but Emmet was already shaking his head before the words were completely out. “Hear me out. You never know—”
“I’m not in the market for a mate. Send Mick.”
“Emmet…”
“Not happening. Either apologize over the phone, or send someone else. I’m not going.” With that, his brother got into his truck and slammed the door shut, preventing any further conversation.
Of course, as Alpha, he could order his brother to go, but he wouldn’t. He’d let Emmet deal with his shit in his own way—for now.
Four
Maple woke slowly, blinking against the bright sunlight streaming between her curtains as the warm breeze drifted in. None of the street noises from the city or the aggravating sound of her alarm clock greeted her. She could get used to this.
As tempting as rolling over and getting another hour of sleep was, she had to get into town. After mulling things over last night, she had few options. One, she could find a plumber and see if they could come out and fix the shower. She groaned at the thought of the overtime she’d have to put in to cover that cost once she got back to the city, and pushed that idea aside. Two, she could go to the library and get a Do-It-Yourself book. She’d never done anything like it before, but she’d never been one to shy away from a challenge. How hard could fixing a faucet really be? Or three, she could keep showering outside. It wasn’t ideal, but it would work if need be.
Stretching, she climbed out of bed. Library first, then hardware store. With a loose plan in place, she headed to the kitchen to get her coffee going.
“What the hell?” She lifted her foot, now dripping wet, from where a puddle of water pooled on the linoleum in front of the fridge. Absolute silence filled the kitchen. The fridge had been humming happily along when she’d cleaned it yesterday, but she hadn’t checked it again. She was pretty sure it had been cold when she’d fixed her dinner, but now, she couldn’t say for sure. She’d been distracted after her encounter with the wolf.
She opened the small freezer door at the top first. Sure enough, the frost that had clung to the walls was gone. Groaning, she pulled the fridge door open and grabbed the carton of milk, heading for the sink. “No coffee for me this morning,” she grumbled.
Crap. She should have known getting away for a few weeks wouldn’t be that simple. Her heart sunk. She couldn’t afford a new fridge for her sardine can of an apartment, much less one for the cabin. She tried to remember if the town had a used appliances store, but even if it had twenty years ago, that didn’t mean it was still around. Double crap.
If she couldn’t find something—cheap—she wouldn’t be able to stay after all. Tears rimmed her eyelids, but she blinked them back. She’d figure something out. She wasn’t ready to give up on her little getaway, especially if she decided to put the old property up for sale at the end of her stay. With her new resolve, she got dressed. Just because her day hadn’t started the way she’d wanted didn’t mean she had to go out in public looking like she’d crawled out of bed.
One pretty dress, some sensible shoes, and a bit of gloss later, and she was ready to face the world. Maybe if she pretended all was right in her life, it would be for once.
The sleepy town hadn’t changed a whole lot from what she could remember. A few shops, a grocery store, and a pharmacy lined the main street. The park her grandfather used to take her to still stood at the end. The metal monkey bars and slides she remembered climbing had been replaced with newer, more modern play structures. A few children played and laughed while their mothers sat on a bench, chatting together.
Maple drove slowly, allowing the memories she’d long forgotten to seep back in, filling her heart with something she hadn’t felt in a long time—a sense of home. A little further down, she was surprised to see old Mr. Cooper’s ice cream shop was still open. Next to that, the bank, and then her destination, the library.
She pulled her little Acura into a spot on the street rather than in the parking lot. With the weird, little noise coming from the engine, she didn’t want to box herself in anywhere. She probably should have turned back when the sound had started on her drive from the city, but she couldn’t. The need to come home had been more than she could resist. Besides, the thing hadn’t let her down yet. She’d have it looked at when she got back. Maybe. It all depended on whether her uncle pulled through next month or not, she might have to rely on public transit for a while, but she’d cross that bridge when she got to it.
The smell of old books wafted to her nose the moment she opened the library door. Memories had her grinning even before she crossed the threshold. She and her friend, Bonnie, used to come to the library each Saturday. They’d pick a book and sit to read. One thing inevitably led to another, and the giggling began. She couldn’t recall the number of times they’d been asked to leave by the head librarian, Mrs. Wentworth.
“Well, I’ll be. Janice was right for once,” came a much too loud voice from behind the counter.
Maple looked over in time to see a gorgeous woman step around it and come toward her. Her blond hair was tied in a messy bun on her head, and the woman wore a sensible blouse and dress pants but looked nothing like what she’d expect a librarian to look.
“It is you, isn’t it, Maple?”
Maple looked at the woman. The chubby cheeks were gone, and her body wasn’t that of a child anymore, but she’d recognize those sky-blue eyes anywhere. “How have you been, Bonnie?”
“I’m great. How long has it been? Are you back for good?”
A loud shush came from a nearby table, and Bonnie grinned, exposing two deep dimples. “Some things never change,” she said in a quieter tone.
“I’m here for a few weeks, but then I have to head back to the city, unfortunately.”
A strange look crossed the woman’s face. “That’s too bad.”
“Yeah, I’ve missed the place. There’s work to be done at the cabin, but it’s still as pretty as it used to be. Speaking of which, do you have a book on fixing a shower faucet?” As much as she’d love to stay and chat, she had to figure out what the hell she was going to do.
“Yep, I’m sure we do. Come with me,” she said as she led the way to the far corner of the library. She ran a fingertip lovingly across the spines, then came to a stop when she found what she was looking for. “Here you go.”
Maple took the book from her. “I don’t suppose there’s a used appliance store here in town, is there?” she asked. There was no point in fixing the faucet if she had to leave again.
Her heart sunk as Bonnie shook her head. “No, unfortunately. The closest appliance store is three hours away in Red Rock. What are you looking for?”
“The old fridge died on me. If I can’t get one, I won’t be staying after all,” she tried to keep her tone light, but the words sounded strained, even to her.
“Oh, wait. I think I know someone who has one.”
“Really? That would be great, thank you.” Her spirits lifted as her childhood friend pulled a cell out of her pocket.
Maple flipped through the pages of the book. The job didn’t look all that complicated, but she’d need tools. “I guess I should get a library card and check this out.”
Bonnie smiled and took the book from her hands. “Hang on. I think I have a better solution. I know someone who can do that for you. He won’t even mind going out there at the last minute.”
Maple was already shaking her head before the woman was finished speaking. “I’d really rather not pay to have it done. I can do it.”
“Nonsense. He’ll be happy to do it, and he won’t charge you a dime for it.”
“No one does anything for free these days, Bonnie,” she said as she watched the woman dial a number and put the phone to her ear.
“Hey Jaxon, this is Bonnie. Yeah, I’m good, how about you?” The woman gave her a wink as she spoke. “Listen, an old friend of mine, Maple Hudson, is here at the library. She’s got a problem with a faucet. Do you think you can help her out?”
Maple chewed on her bottom lip. Maybe things would work out after all.
“He wants to know what’s wrong with it, so he knows what to bring?” Bonnie asked.
“The taps just spin without catching.”
Bonnie relayed the information and listened to whoever was at the other end of the line. “Great. Oh, hey, since I’ve got you, do you know if Mick still has that fridge in his garage? That’s on the fritz, too. If Maple can’t find a fridge, she won’t be staying in town.”
Bonnie glanced at her. “He wants to know what time you’ll be back. He’s free today, and he’ll find you a fridge.”
“I need to get the supplies for the faucet, a few groceries, and then I’m heading back. Can you ask him how much for the work and the fridge?”
“She’s heading back there soon. How much will you charge her for fixing the faucet?”
Bonnie grinned. “That’s what I thought. Alright. Thanks, Jax.”
She slipped the phone back into her pocket. “He’ll be there in an hour. No fee. And he’s bringing the fridge and whatever he needs to fix the faucet with him.”
Maple stood there staring at the woman who’d just made her life a hell of a lot easier. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” She hugged Bonnie, her heart lighter than it had been all morning. She wouldn’t have to go back to the city after all.
“That’s what friends do, even if we don’t see each other in decades. I better get back to work, and you better get your shopping done and get back home.”
She couldn’t keep the smile from her lips as she left the library with plans to meet up with Bonnie at the diner down the street in a few days and her cabin problems all but resolved.
Sassy Ever After: Northern Sass (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Sugar Shack Book 1) Page 2
